Deer Resistant Plants

Learn more about Deer Resistance

While no plant is completely deer-proof, many species are naturally deer resistant due to strong scents, bitter tastes, or unappetizing textures. Fragrant lavender and rosemary confuse their senses, while the foliage of Russian sage, and the compounds in foxgloves make them less appealing. For extra protection, products like Deer-Out, a natural-ingredient repellent, can be sprayed on vulnerable plants to reinforce their defenses. Layering these strategies, like planting deer resistant barriers, or intermingling resistant varieties with more tempting ones, can transform your garden into a resilient, thriving space where beauty and nature coexist.

Deer Resistance Resources

Deer Resistance - Rutgers University

Deer Resistance - Pennsylvania DCNR

Deer Resistance - Proven Winners

List of Deer Resistant Plants

*Availability of products are subject to seasonality and supply factors.

ANNUALS

Ageratum, Ageratum houstonianum
Angel’s Trumpet, Brugmansia sp. (Datura)
Anise, Pimpinalla anisum
Annual Vinca, Catharanthus rosea
Bachelor’s Buttons, Centaurea cyanus
Basil, Ocimum basilicum
Borage, Borage officinalis
California Poppy, Eschscholzia californica
Candytuft, Iberis umbellata
Cock’s Comb, Celosia sp.
Dill, Anethumus graveolens
Dusty Miller, Centaurea cineraria
False Camomile, Matricaria sp.
Flowering Tobacco, Nicotiana sp.
Forget-Me-Not, Myosotis sylvatica
French Marigold, Tagetes patula
Heliotrope, Heliotropium arborescens
Lantana, Lantana sp.
Larkspur, Consolida ambigua
Lobelia, Lobelia sp.
Nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus
Parsley, Petroselinum crispum
Poppy, Papaver sp.
Pot Marigold, Calendula sp.
Rosemary, Rosmarinus officinalis
Salvia, Salvia
Shiso, Perilla frutescens
Snapdragon, Antirrhinum majus
Snow-on-the-Mountain, Euphorbia marginata
Spider Flower, Cleome sp.
Stocks, Matthiola sp.
Strawflower, Helichrysum
Sweet Alyssum, Lobularia maritima
Verbena, Verbena x hybrida
Wallflower, Cheiranthus sp.
Zinnia, Zinnia sp.

BULBS

Autumn Crocus, Colchicum sp.
Bluebell, Endymion sp.
Calla Lily, Zantedeschia sp.
Camassia, Camassia leichtlini
Canna Lily, Canna sp.
Crocus, Crocus sp.
Crown Imperial, Fritilia, Fritilaria imperialis
Daffodil, Narcissus sp.
Elephant Ear, Colocasia esculenta
Gladiolus, Gladiolus sp.
Glory Lily, Gloriosa superba
Grape Hyacinth, Muscari sp.
Hyacinth, Hyacinthus sp.
Ornamental Onion, Allium sp.
Siberian Squill, Scilla siberica
Snowdrops, Galanthus nivalis
Winter Aconite, Eranthus hyemalis
Wood Sorrel, Oxalis sp.

FERNS

Christmas Fern, Polystichum arcostichoides
Cinnamon Fern, Osmunda cinnamomea
Hayscented Fern, Dennstaedtia punctilobula
Holly Fern, Cyrtomium falcatum
Japanese Painted Fern, Athyrium goeringianum (nipponicum)
New York Fern, Thelyptens noveboracensis
Ostrich Fern, Matteuccia struthiopteris
Royal Fern, Osmunda regalis
Sensitive Fern, Onoclea sensibilis
Wood Fern, Dryopteris marginalis

GRASSES

Big Bluestem, Andropogon sp.
Blue Fescue, Festuca glauca
Blue Oat Grass, Helictotrichon sempervirens
Bottlebrush Grass, Hystrix patula
Clump Bamboo, Fargesia sp.
Drooping Sedge, Carex pendula
Dwarf Mondo Grass, Ophiopogon japonicus
Feather Reed Grass, Calamagrostis sp.
Fountain Grass, Pennisetum alopecuroides
Giant Japanese Silver Grass, Miscanthus floridulis
Giant Reed, Arundo donax
Hakonechloa, Hakonechloa macra
Hard Rush, Juncus effusus
Indian Grass, Sorghastrum nutans
Japanese Blood Grass, Imperata cylindrica
Japanese Sedge, Carex sp.
Japanese Silver Grass, Miscanthus sinensis
Japanese Sweet Flag, Acorus sp.
Large Blue June Grass, Koeleria glauca
Little Bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium
Lyme Grass, Leymus arenarius glaucous
Northern Sea Oats, Chasmanthium latifolium
Oriental Fountain Grass, Pennisetum orientale
Pampus Grass, Cortaderia selloana
Purple Moor Grass, Molinia caerulea
Ravenna Grass, Erianthus ravennae
Ribbon Grass, Phalaris arundinaceae
Sedge, Scirpus lacustris
Switch Grass, Panicum virgatum
Variegated Purple Moor Grass, Molinia caerulea ‘Variegata’
Varigated Oat Grass, Arrhenatherum elatius
Weeping Love Grass, Eragrostus curvula

PERENNIALS

African Lily, Agapanthus sp.
Allegheny Spurge, Pachysandra procumbens
American Bittersweet, Celastrus scandens
Anise Hyssop, Agastache sp.
Asparagus, Asparagus officinalis
Aster, Aster sp.
Astilbe, Astilbe sp.
Baby’s Breath, Gypsophila sp.
Barrenwort, Epimedium sp.
Basket of Gold, Aurinia saxatilis
Bearberry, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi
Beebalm, Monarda didyma
Bigleaf Goldenray, Ligularia dentata
Bishop’s Weed, Aegopodium podagaria
Black-Eyed Susan, Rudbeckia sp.
Blazing Star, Liatris sp.
Bleeding Heart, Dicentra spectabilis
Bugleweed, Ajuga reptans
Bugloss, Anchusa sp.
Butter & Eggs, Linaria vulgaris
Buttercup, Ranunculus sp.
Butterfly Weed, Asclepias tuberosa
Cactus, Cactaceae sp.
Candytuft, Iberis sempervirens
Cardinal Flower, Lobelia sp.
Carnation, Pinks, Dianthus sp.
Catmint, Nepeta sp.
Columbine, Aquilegia sp.
Common Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea
Common Tansy, Tanacetum vulgare
Common Yarrow, Achillea millefolium
Coralbells, Heuchera sp.
Corydalis, Corydalis sp.
Creeping Wintergreen, Gaultheria procumbens
Crocosmia, Croscosmia sp.
Cyclamen, Cyclamen sp.
Dame’s Rocket, Hesperis matronalis
Delphinium, Delphinium sp.
European Ginger, Asarum europaeum
False Indigo, Baptisia australis
Feverfew, Chrysanthemum parthenium
Foam Flower, Tiarella cordifolia
Forget-Me-Not, Myosotis alpestris
Forget-Me-Not, Myosotis sp.
Fringed Bleeding Heart, Dicentra eximia
Garden Sage, Salvia officinalis
Gas Plant, Dictamus alba
Germander, Teucrium chamaedrys
Goldenrod, Solidago sp.
Greek Jerusalem Sage, Phlomis sp.
Hardy Geranium, Geranium macrorrhizum
Heartleaf Bergenia, Bergenia sp.
Hens and Chickens, Sempervivum sp.
Horehound, Marrubium vulgare
Horseradish, Armoracia rusticana
Hyssop, Hyssopus officinalis
Iris, Iris sp.
Jack-in-the-pulpit, Arisaema triphylum
Jacob’s Ladder, Polemonium caeruleum
Japanese Anemone, Anemone x hybrida
Ladys’ Mantle, Alchemilla sp.
Lamb’s Ear, Stachys byzantina
Lance Coreopsis, Coreopsis lanceolata
Large Periwinkle, Vinca major
Lavendar, Lavandula sp.
Lavender-Cotton, Santolina chamaecyparissus
Lemon Balm, Melissa officinalis
Lenten or Christmas Rose, Helleborus sp.
Lily of the Valley, Convallaria majalis
Lilyturf, Liriope sp.
Lungwort, Pulmonaria sp.
Lupine, Lupinus sp.
Maltese Cross, Lychnis chalcedonica
Marjoram, Majorana
May Apple, Podophyllum
Meadow Rue, Thalictrum sp.
Meadow Sage, Salvia nemorosa
Mint, Mentha sp.
Mist Flower, Eupatorium coelestinurn
Money Plant, Lunaria annua
Monkshood, Aconitum sp.
Mullein, Verbascum sp.
Obedient Plant, Physostegia sp.
Oregano, Origanum sp.
Oriental Poppy, Papaver orientale
Ornamental Onion, Allium sp.
Pachysandra, Pachysandra terminalis
Patrinia, Patrinia scabiosifolia
Peony, Paeonia sp.
Periwinkle, Vinca minor
Pincushin Flower, Scabiosa caucasica
Plumbago, Ceratostigma plumbaginoides
Plume Poppy, Macleaya cordata
Potentilla, Cinquefoil, Potentilla sp.
Primrose, Primula sp.
Purple Coneflower, Echinacea purpurea
Purple Rock-Cress, Aubretia deltoidea
Red-Hot Poker, Kniphofia tritoma
Rhubarb, Rheum rhabarbarum
Rock-Cress, Arabis caucasica
Rocket Ligularia, Ligularia ‘The Rocket’
Rodgers Flower, Rodgersia sp.
Rose Campion, Lychnis coronaria
Rue Anemone, Anemonella thalictroides
Rue, Ruta sp.
Russian Sage, Perovskio atriplicifolia
Savory, Satureja montana
Sea Thrift, Armeria maritima
Siberian Bugloss, Bruneria macrophylla (Brunnera)
Silver Mound, Artemisia sp.
Skunk Cabbage, Symplocarpos foetidus
Small Globe Thistle, Echinops ritro
Snakeroot, Bugbane, Cimcifuga sp.
Sneezeweed, Helenium autumnale
Snow-in-Summer, Cerastium
Soapwort, Saponaria sp.
Speedwell, Veronica sp.
Spiderwort, Tradescantia sp.
Spotted Deadnettle, Lamium sp.
Spurge, Euphorbia sp. (except ‘Chameleon’)
St. John’s Wort, Hypericum calycinum
Statice, Limonium latifolium
Stokes’ Aster, Stokesia laevis
Swamp Milkweed, Asclepias incarnata
Sweet William, Dianthus barbatus
Sweet Woodruff, Galium odoratum (Asperula odorata)
Tarragon, Artemisia dracunculus
Threadleaf Coreopsis, Coreopsis verticillata
Thyme, Thymus sp.
Toad Lily, Tricyrtis hirta
Trillium, Trillium sp.
Trout Lily, Erythronium
Violets, Viola sp.
Virginia Bluebells, Mertensia virginica
White Boltonia, Boltonia asteroides
White Snakeroot, Eupatorium rugosum
Wild Ginger, Asarum canadense
Winter Jasmine, Jasminum nudiflorum
Wisteria, Wisteria floribunda
Yarrow, Achillea filipendulina
Yellow Foxglove, Digitalis grandiflora
Yellow Wax-Bells, Kirengeshoma palmata
Yucca, Yucca filimentosa

SHRUBS

Anthony Waterer Spirea, Spiraea x bumalda
Armstrong Juniper, Juniperus chinensis ‘Armstrongii’
Arrowwood Viburnum, Viburnum dentatum
Autumn Olive, Elaeagnus umbellatus
Barberry, Berberis sp.
Bayberry, Myrica pensylvanica
Bearberry Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster dammeri
Beautyberry, Callicarpa sp.
Beautybush, Kolkwitzia amabilis
Blackhaw Viburnum, Viburnum prunifolium
Blue Mist Shrub, Caryopteris clandonensis
Blue Star Juniper, Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’
Blueberry Elder, Sweet Elder, Sambucus canadensis
Bog Rosemary, Andromeda polifolia
Brambles, Rubus sp.
Bridalwreath Spirea, Spiraea prunifolia
Broom, Cytisus sp.
Buckthorn, Rhammus sp.
Bush Cinquefoil, Potentilla fruticosa
Butterfly Bush, Buddleia sp.
California Sweetshrub, Calycanthus occidentalis
Carolina Silverbell, Halesia carolina
Cherry Laurel, Prunus laurocerasus
Chinese Holly, Ilex cornuta
Chinese Juniper, Juniperus chinensis cv.
Coast Leucothoe, Leucothoe axillaris
Common Boxwood, Buxus sempervirens
Common Lilac, Syringa vulgaris
Common Sweetshrub, Calycanthus floridus
Common Witchhazel, Hamamelis virginiana
Coralberry, Symphoricarpos x chenaultii
Cranberry Bush, Viburnum opulus
Cranberry Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster apiculatus
Crape Myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica
Creeping Juniper, Juniperus horizontalis cv.
Currant, Ribes sp.
Daphne, Daphne sp.
Deutzia, Deutzia sp.
Devil’s Walking Stick, Aralia spinosa
Doublefile Viburnum, Viburnum plicatum tomentosurn
Drooping Leucothoe, Leucothoe fontanesiana
Dwarf Balsam Fir, Abies balsamea
English Holly, Ilex aquifolium
Firethorn, Pyracantha coccinea
Forsythia, Forsythia x intermedia
Fothergillia, Fothergila sp.
Fragrant Sumac, Rhus aromatica
Glossy Abelia, Abelia sp.
Goldust Plant, Aucuba japonica
Harlequin Glorybower, Clerodendrum fargesii
Hazelnut, Corylus sp.
Heath, Erica sp.
Heather, Calliuna sp.
Holly Osmanthus, Osmanthus heterophyllus
Inkberry, Ilex glabra
Japanese Flowering Quince, Chaenomeles japonica
Japanese Garden Juniper, Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’
Japanese Kerria, Kerria japonica
Japanese Pieris, Andromeda, Pieris japonica
Japanese Plum Yew, Cephalotaxus harringtonia
Japanese Skimmia, Skimmia japonica
Japanese Spirea, Spiraea japonica
Japanese Tree Lilac, Syringa reticulata
John T. Morris Holly, Ilex x ‘John T. Morris’
Judd Viburnum, Viburnum x juddii
Koreanspice Viburnum, Viburnum carlesii
Leatherleaf Mahonia, Mahonia bealei
Leatherleaf Viburnum, Viburnum rhytidophyllum
Lydia Morris Holly, Ilex x ‘Lydia Morris’
Moonglow Juniper, Juniperus scopulorum ‘Moonglow’
Mountain Juniper, Juniperus scopulorum cv.
Mountain Pieris, Pieris floribunda
Mugo Pine, Pinus mugo
Oregon Grape Holly, Mahonia aquifolium
Pfitzer Juniper, Juniperus chinensis ‘Pfitzerana’
Prince of Wales Juniper, Juniperus horizontalis ‘Prince of Wales’
Privet, Ligustrurn sp.
Pyrenees Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster congestus
Red Chokeberry, Aronia arbutifolia
Red Elderberry, Sambucus racemosa
Red Osier Dogwood, Cornus sericea
Red Twigged Dogwood, Cornus alba
Redvein Enkianthus, Enkianthus campanulatus
Rockspray Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster horizontalis
Rose of Sharon, Hibiscus syriacus
Russian Cypress, Microbiota decussata
Russian Olive, Elaeagnus angustifolia
Saucer Magnolia, Magnolia x soulangiana
Savin/Tam Juniper, Juniperus sabin cv.
Sea Buckthorn, Hippophae rhamnoides
Singleseed Juniper, Juniperus squamata cv.
Smokebush, Cotinus coggygria
Snowberry, Symphoricarpos albus
Spicebush, Lindera benzoin
St. John’s Wort, Hypericum prolificum
Sweet Box, Sarcoccoca hookeriana
Sweet Mock Orange, Philadelphus coronarius
Sweet Pepperbush, Clethra sp.
Virginia Sweetspire, Itea virginica
Weigela, Weigela florida
Willowleaf Cotoneaster, Cotoneaster salicifolius
Winterberry Holly, Ilex verticillata
Youngstown Andorra Juniper, Juniperus horizontalis ‘Youngstown’

TREES

Allegheny Serviceberry, Amelanchier laevis
American Holly, Ilex opaca
Austrian Pine, Pinus nigra
Bottlebrush Buckeye, Aesculus parviflora
Chinese Fringe Tree, Chionanthus retusus
Chinese Paper Birch, Betula albo-sinensis
Colorado Blue Spruce, Picea pungens
Common Flowering Quince, Chaenomeles speciosa
Common Sassafras, Sassafras albidurn
Corkscrew Willow, Salix matsudana tortuosa
Dawn Redwood, Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Douglas Fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii
Downy Serviceberry, Amelanchier arborea
Dragon Lady, San Jose Holly, Ilex x aquipernyi
Dwarf Alberta Spruce, Picea glauca ‘Conica’
Eastern Red Cedar, Juniperus virginiana
Eastern White Pine, Pinus strobus
English Hawthorn, Crataegus laevigata
European Ash, Fraxinus excelsior
European Beech, Fagus sylvatica
European White Birch, Betula pendula
Goldenrain Tree, Koelreuteria paniculata
Green Ash, Fraximus pennsylvanica
Himalayan Birch, Betula jacquemontii
Honey Locust, Gleditsia triacanthos
Japanese Black Pine, Pinus thunbergiana
Japanese Cedar, Cryptomeria japonica
Japanese Falsecypress, Chamaecyparis pisifera
Japanese Flowering Cherry, Prunus serrulata
Japanese Maple, Acer palmatum
Japanese Red Pine, Pinus densiflora
Katsura Tree, Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Kousa Dogwood, Cornus kousa
Mimosa, Albizia julibrissin
Norway Spruce, Picea abies
Paper Birch, Betula papyrifera
Paperbark Maple, Acer griseurn
Pawpaw, Asimina triloba
Pitch Pine, Pinus rigida
Red Maple, Acer rubrum
Red Pine, Pinus resinosa
River Birch, Betula nigra
Ruby Horsechestnut, Aesculus x carnea
Scotch Pine, Pinus sylvestris
Serbian Spruce, Picea omorika
Shadbush, Amelanchier canadensis
Sourwood, Oxydendrum arboreum
Striped Maple, Acer pensylvanicum
Sugar Maple, Acer saccharum
Tulip Tree, Liriodendron tulipifera
White Spruce, Picea glauca
Yellow Birch, Betula lutea